Hopi and Apache spiritual artifacts

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Allison Gister, left, and Carol Laumen of the Annenberg Foundation used a clandestine plan to secure the return of valuable Native American masks from a Paris auction this month. They executed the deal Dec. 9 from Los Angeles using telephone and online bids.

Allison Gister, left, and Carol Laumen of the Annenberg Foundation used a clandestine plan to secure the return of valuable Native American masks from a Paris auction this month. They executed the deal Dec. 9 from Los Angeles using telephone and online bids. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)